Emilie Sagee was a woman living in the 19th century who found herself constantly pursued by her own Doppelganger, a ghostly double that no one else could see. Sagee struggled to escape this mysterious entity, which seemed to follow her everywhere she went, causing her great distress and confusion. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to shake the presence of her Doppelganger, which continued to haunt her throughout her life.
Around the world, people have believed in spirits that exist beyond death, in an otherworldly realm where they can continue to exist and potentially cause strange and unexplained events in the living world. This includes beliefs in ghosts, ghouls, witches, wizards, and other supernatural entities that have puzzled humans for centuries. In many of these belief systems, the concept of a Doppelganger plays a significant role, as it is often seen as a mysterious and unsettling presence that can appear and disappear at will. The existence of Doppelgangers has long been a source of fascination and uncertainty for people, as they try to understand the mysteries of the paranormal world.
What Is Doppelganger?
The term "doppelgänger" is often used to refer to a person who looks like another person, but this usage is not entirely accurate. The word "doppelgänger" originally referred to a ghostly double or alter ego of a person, and it is still sometimes used in this sense. In general, it is more accurate to describe a person who looks like someone else as a look-alike or a twin rather than a doppelgänger.
"Doppelganger" is a term that refers to a ghostly double or apparition of a living person. It is not simply someone who looks like another person, but rather a precise reflection or spectral duplicate of that person. This term suggests a supernatural or otherworldly aspect, and is not just used to describe someone who resembles another person physically.
In some traditions and stories, a doppelgänger is believed to be an evil twin or a malevolent alter ego of a person. In modern times, the term "twin stranger" is sometimes used to describe someone who looks very similar to another person, but is not actually related to them. This term is less loaded than "doppelgänger," which has connotations of being an evil or supernatural double of a person.
Definition For Doppelganger:
A doppelgänger is a supernatural or paranormal double of a living person, often appearing as a look-alike or non-biologically related twin. This phenomenon is often considered a harbinger of bad luck or an omen of some kind. In simpler terms, a doppelgänger is a ghostly or otherworldly version of a person.
Doppelganger Meaning
The word "doppelgänger" is derived from the German word "dɒpəlɡɛŋər," which means "double-goer." "Doppel" means "double," and "ganger" means "goer." A "goer" is someone who regularly attends a particular place or event. In this context, a doppelgänger is a person's double or ghostly alter ego who is able to go places and potentially even attend events.
A doppelgänger is a ghostly double or apparition of a living person. In some traditions and stories, a doppelgänger is believed to be able to attend a particular place or event, especially on a regular basis. This idea suggests that a doppelgänger is not simply a physical likeness of a person, but rather a spectral or supernatural duplicate that has its own agency and activities.
The Strange Case Of Emilie Sagee:
One of the most famous and mysterious cases of a doppelganger is that of Emilie Sagee, whose story was first related by Robert Dale-Owen in 1860. This case dates back to the early nineteenth century and has gained a reputation for being particularly eerie and strange. According to the account, Sagee was accompanied by her doppelganger, a ghostly double who appeared to her and others at various times and places. The case of Emilie Sagee remains a compelling and enduring mystery.
Robert Dale-Owen was a Scottish-American philanthropist who was born on November 7, 1801 in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1825, he emigrated to the United States and became a citizen there. Throughout his life, Dale-Owen was known for his charitable works and dedication to helping others.
During the 1830s and 1840s, Robert Dale-Owen was active as both a successful politician and a well-known social activist. He made a significant impact in these fields during this time period. In the late 1850s, Dale-Owen retired from politics and turned to spiritualism, like his father before him. He dedicated himself to exploring and promoting spiritualist beliefs and practices in the latter part of his life.
Robert Dale-Owen's first publication on the subject of spiritualism was a book called "Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World," which was published in 1860. This book included a chapter that featured the story of Emilie Sagee, a French woman whose case of a doppelganger was well known at the time. Dale-Owen's book helped to popularize the tale of Emilie Sagee and bring it to a wider audience.
Robert Dale-Owen learned about the case of Emilie Sagee from Julie von Güldenstubbe, the daughter of Baron von Güldenstubbe. Julie von Güldenstubbe attended Pensionat von Neuwelcke, an elite boarding school in present-day Latvia, in 1845. Emilie Sagee, who was 32 years old at the time, had also worked as a teacher at this school. Dale-Owen heard the story of Emilie Sagee's doppelganger from Julie von Güldenstubbe and included it in his book "Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World."
Emilie Sagee was a well-respected and admired teacher at Pensionat von Neuwelcke, known for her intelligence and attractiveness. However, it was eventually noticed that she had worked at 18 different schools in the preceding 16 years, and Pensionat von Neuwelcke was her 19th workplace. This raised questions about why she was unable to maintain a long-term position at any of these schools. As time went on, the school began to uncover the strange reason for Emilie's job changes.
Emilie Sagee was known to have a doppelganger, or ghostly double, that would make itself visible to others at random moments. The first time it was seen was during a lesson she was giving to a class of 17 girls. As she wrote on the board with her back to the students, an entity resembling Emilie appeared beside her and mimicked her movements. While everyone in the class could see this doppelganger, Emilie herself was unaware of its presence. In fact, she never encountered her ghostly twin, which was considered to be a good thing because seeing one's own doppelganger is believed to be a very ominous event.
After the first sighting, Emilie's doppelganger was seen by others at the school on a regular basis. It was observed sitting beside the real Emilie while she ate, imitating her actions while she did her daily work, and sitting in class while Emilie taught. On one occasion, the doppelganger even appeared while Emilie was helping a young student get dressed for an event. The student was frightened upon looking down and seeing two Emilies attending to her dress. These encounters with the doppelganger were unsettling and caused concern among those who witnessed them.
One of the most widely discussed sightings of Emilie's doppelganger occurred when a group of 42 girls were taking a sewing class. While their supervisor was absent from the room, Emilie entered and sat down in her place. The students didn't think much of it until one of them pointed out that Emilie was still outside gardening. They were likely frightened by the presence of another Emilie in the room, but some of them were brave enough to touch the doppelganger. When they did, they discovered that their hands could pass through its ethereal body, as if it were made of cobwebs. This eerie encounter added to the mystery and intrigue surrounding Emilie Sagee and her doppelganger.
When confronted with accounts of her doppelganger, Emilie was surprised and shocked. She had never seen the ghostly twin that had been haunting her for an extended period of time, and she had no control over its actions. The doppelganger had caused her to lose her previous jobs, and it seemed that her 19th job at Pensionat von Neuwelcke was also in jeopardy due to the unsettling experience of seeing two Emilies at the same time. This spectral duplicate was a constant curse in Emilie's life and caused her great distress.
Due to the frequent sightings of Emilie's doppelganger and the fear and superstition it generated, many parents began to caution their children against attending Pensionat von Neuwelcke and some even complained to the school authorities. As this was the early 19th century, people were often very superstitious and afraid of the supernatural, so the principal reluctantly decided to let Emilie go, despite her excellent teaching abilities. This was a familiar outcome for Emilie, as she had faced similar situations at her previous jobs due to her doppelganger.
According to accounts, when Emilie's doppelganger made itself visible, the real Emilie appeared very tired and lethargic, as if the duplicate was a part of her spirit that had separated from her body. When the doppelganger disappeared, she returned to her normal state. After the incident in the garden, Emilie mentioned that she had felt an urge to go inside the classroom and supervise the students herself, but she hadn't actually done so. This suggests that the doppelganger may have represented the kind of teacher Emilie wanted to be, able to multitask and attend to multiple tasks at once.
The case of Emilie Sagee and her doppelganger has continued to captivate people for over two centuries, making it one of the most famous and unsettling stories of a doppelganger in history. The idea that someone could have a ghostly double that they are not aware of and that can appear to others is both fascinating and frightening, and it is no wonder that this case has endured in the public imagination.
Robert Dale-Owen did not provide any information about what happened to Emilie Sagee after the events described in his book, or how she died. In fact, very little is known about Emilie Sagee beyond the story that Dale-Owen included in "Footfalls on the Boundary of Another World." Despite the enduring interest in her case, there is a lack of concrete information about her life and fate.
Criticisms Of Emilie Sagee's Fascinating Story:
Actual cases of doppelgangers, or ghostly doubles, are quite rare, and Emilie Sagee's story is one of the most well-known and frightening examples. However, the accuracy and authenticity of this story has been called into question by some people. While it is certainly an interesting and intriguing tale, it is important to consider the possibility that some of the details may have been exaggerated or altered over time.
Some people have pointed out that there are inconsistencies and contradictions in the information provided in Dale-Owen's book about the school where Emilie taught, the location of the city where she lived, the names of the people involved, and even the existence of Emilie Sagee herself. They argue that these discrepancies raise doubts about the reliability of the story as a whole, especially when considered in relation to the timeline of events. While this does not necessarily mean that the story is completely untrue, it is important to consider the possibility that some of the details may not be entirely accurate.
While there is historical evidence that a family named Saget (also spelled Sagee) lived in Dijon during the relevant time period, there is no concrete proof to confirm the accuracy of Robert Dale-Owen's account of Emilie Sagee's doppelganger. Without further corroborating evidence, it is difficult to say with certainty whether the story as related by Dale-Owen is completely true or not.
Additionally, Robert Dale-Owen did not personally witness the events described in his book. He heard about them from a woman whose father had supposedly seen these strange occurrences about 30 years earlier. This adds another layer of uncertainty to the story, as it is being related secondhand and not directly from someone who was present at the time.
Given the significant amount of time that had passed between the original events and the recounting of the story to Dale-Owen, there is also the possibility that the woman's memory had become somewhat faulty over time. It is possible that some of the details she shared with Dale-Owen were incorrect or distorted, either due to the passage of time or because of other factors. It is worth noting that these inaccuracies could have been unintentional and not a result of any malicious intent.
Other Famous Stories Of Doppelgangers From History:
The doppelganger, or ghostly double, has been a popular theme in fiction, often used as a means of frightening readers or as a way to explore spiritual concepts and the strange aspects of human nature. It has appeared in stories and works of literature from various time periods and cultures, including the Ancient Greeks, Dostoyevsky, Edgar Allan Poe, and more modern films like Fight Club and The Double. These tales often depict the doppelganger in different ways, such as evil twins, foreshadowings of the future, metaphorical representations of human duality, or simply as an apparition with no discernible qualities. The wide range of interpretations and uses of the doppelganger in fiction demonstrates the enduring fascination with this mysterious and unsettling phenomenon.
In Ancient Egyptian mythology, a ka was a physical manifestation of a person's spirit or double, which had the same memories and emotions as the individual to whom it belonged. This concept is also reflected in Greek mythology, as seen in the Trojan War. In this story, a ka of Helen deceived Paris, the prince of Troy, which helped to bring an end to the conflict. These mythical examples illustrate the belief in the existence of spirit doubles or doppelgangers that have been present in various cultures throughout history.
There are several historical accounts of real-life, powerful figures who have reportedly had apparitions or doppelgangers of themselves appear. Some examples of these individuals include:
Abraham Lincoln:
In the book "Washington in Lincoln's Time," published in 1895, the author, Noah Brooks, includes a strange story that was told to him directly by Abraham Lincoln. According to Brooks, Lincoln related the following account:
"It was just after my election in 1860 when the news had been coming in thick and fast all day and there had been a great 'hurrah, boys,' so that I was well tired out, and went home to rest, throwing myself down on a lounge in my chamber. Opposite where I lay was a bureau with a swinging glass upon it (and here he got up and placed furniture to illustrate the position), and looking in that glass I saw myself reflected nearly at full length; but my face, I noticed had two separate and distinct images, the tip of the nose of one being about three inches from the tip of the other. I was a little bothered, perhaps startled, and got up and looked in the glass, but the illusion vanished. On lying down again, I saw it a second time, plainer, if possible, than before; and then I noticed that one of the faces was a little paler - say five shades - than the other. I got up, and the thing melted away, and I went off, and in the excitement of the hour forgot all about it - nearly, but not quite, for the thing would once in a while come up, and give me a little pang as if something uncomfortable had happened. When I went home again that night I told my wife about it, and a few days afterward I made the experiment again, when (with a laugh), sure enough! the thing came back again; but I never succeeded in bringing the ghost back after that, though I once tried very industriously to show it to my wife, who was somewhat worried about it. She thought it was a 'sign' that I was to be elected to a second term of office, and that the paleness of one of the faces was an omen that I should not see life through the last term."
Queen Elizabeth:
According to legend, Queen Elizabeth I was said to have witnessed a doppelganger of herself lying motionless next to her while she was in bed. The doppelganger was described as being "pallid, shivered, and wan," which shocked the queen. It is unclear if this story is true or if it is simply a legend that has been passed down through the years. Doppelgangers and ghostly doubles have long been a subject of fascination and have been mentioned in various cultural and historical accounts throughout the world.
Queen Elizabeth I was known to be a calm, sensible, and strong-willed person who did not have much faith in spirits and superstition. However, she was also aware that folklore considered the sighting of a doppelganger to be a bad omen. Despite this, she reportedly witnessed her own doppelganger lying motionless next to her while she was in bed. Some sources say that this experience may have contributed to her death, which occurred shortly thereafter in 1603. However, it is also possible that this story is simply a legend that has been passed down through the years.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe:
According to legend, writer, poet, and politician Johann Wolfgang von Goethe encountered his doppelganger while riding home on a road after visiting a friend. As he was riding, he noticed another rider approaching him from the opposite direction. As they passed each other, Goethe realized that the rider was an exact duplicate of himself. This encounter with his doppelganger reportedly left a deep impression on Goethe, and he later wrote about it in his diary. Doppelgangers and ghostly doubles have long been a subject of fascination and have been mentioned in various cultural and historical accounts throughout the world.
According to the legend, as the rider got closer, Goethe realized that it was an exact duplicate of himself on the other horse, but with different clothes. He described the encounter as "soothing" and said that he saw the other rider with his "mind's eye" more than with his actual eyes. This strange encounter with his doppelganger reportedly left a deep impression on Goethe, and he later wrote about it in his diary. Doppelgangers and ghostly doubles have long been a subject of fascination and have been mentioned in various cultural and historical accounts throughout the world.
According to legend, years after his initial encounter with his doppelganger, Goethe was riding down the same road and realized that he was wearing the same clothes as the mysterious rider he had seen on his previous visit. He was on his way to visit the same friend he had visited on the day of his first encounter. It is unclear what significance this coincidence had, if any, but doppelgangers and ghostly doubles have long been a subject of fascination and have been mentioned in various cultural and historical accounts throughout the world.
Catherine The Great:
According to legend, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia was awakened one night by her servants who were surprised to see her in her bed. They told her that they had just seen her in the throne room. In disbelief, Catherine went to the throne room to see what they were talking about, and saw herself sitting on the throne. She ordered her guards to shoot at the doppelganger, but it was unscathed. Catherine died of a stroke just weeks after this incident. Doppelgangers and ghostly doubles have long been a subject of fascination and have been mentioned in various cultural and historical accounts throughout the world.
Percy Bysshe Shelley:
Percy Bysshe Shelley, the famous English romantic poet and husband of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, claimed to have encountered his doppelganger on multiple occasions throughout his life.
Shelley reported encountering his doppelganger on the terrace of his house while he was out walking. They met in the middle and Shelley's double said to him: "how long do you mean to be content." Shelley's second encounter with his doppelganger took place on a beach, where the double pointed towards the sea. Shelley drowned in a sailing accident shortly thereafter, in 1822.
Mary Shelley, who retold the story after the poet's death, added credibility to the account by mentioning that a friend of theirs, Jane Williams, also encountered Percy Shelley's doppelganger while staying with them.
According to Mary Shelley, "Jane Williams, though a woman of sensibility, has not much imagination, and is not in the slightest degree nervous, neither in dreams or otherwise." While standing at a window on the terrace with Trelawny, Jane saw what she thought was Shelley pass by twice, but when Trelawny stated that no one had passed, Jane became extremely agitated and it became clear that Shelley had not been on the terrace at the time she saw him. This added further credibility to the account of Shelley's doppelganger, as it was seen by someone with a pragmatic and level-headed demeanor.
Yes, it is true that after Percy Shelley's death at the age of 29, Mary Shelley kept a part of his remains, which she believed to be his heart, in her drawer for nearly 30 years until her own death in 1851. After Percy's cremation in Rome, Mary took possession of the heart and kept it with her for the rest of her life.
George Tryon:
George Tryon, a Vice-Admiral in the British Navy, is infamous in history for his reckless decision that led to a collision between his ship, the HMS Victoria, and the HMS Camperdown off the coast of Lebanon. The accident resulted in the deaths of 357 sailors, including Tryon himself. As the HMS Victoria began to sink, Tryon reportedly said "it's all my fault" and took full responsibility for the tragedy. Despite his bravery in accepting blame, Tryon was unable to survive the disaster and drowned in the sea along with his crew.
At the same time as Tryon was dying on the African coast, his wife was hosting a luxurious party in their London home for friends and members of the elite. Some of the guests at the party claimed to have seen Tryon, dressed in full uniform, descending the stairs, walking through some of the rooms, and then quickly exiting through a door before disappearing. The next day, these guests were shocked to learn of Tryon's death.
Guy De Maupassant:
Guy de Maupassant, a French novelist, wrote a short story called "Lui?" (which means "He?" in French) inspired by a disturbing experience he had with his doppelganger in 1889. According to de Maupassant, his double entered his study, sat next to him, and dictated the story he was writing at the time.
"Lui?" is a story narrated by a young man who believes he is losing his mind after seeing what appears to be his ghostly double. Guy de Maupassant claimed to have had multiple encounters with his own doppelganger.
One of the strangest parts of de Maupassant's life was that "Lui?" ended up being somewhat prophetic. After a suicide attempt in 1892, he was committed to a mental institution and died the following year.
It has been suggested that de Maupassant's visions of a body double may have been related to mental illness caused by syphilis, which he contracted in his youth.
The Possible Explanations Of Doppelganger:
Intellectuals generally offer two types of explanations for doppelgangers. One type is based on paranormal and parapsychological theories, while the other is based on scientific or psychological theories.
Paranormal And Parapsychological Explanations Of Doppelganger:
Soul Or Spirit:
The belief that one's soul or spirit can leave the physical body at will is an ancient one, dating back further than recorded history. Some people believe that doppelgangers are evidence of this paranormal concept.
Bi-Location:
The concept of bi-location, in which a person projects an image of their physical body to another location while still remaining in their original location, has a long history in the psychic world. This phenomenon is related to the concept of the astral body, which is often invoked to explain the existence of doppelgangers, or ghostly doubles of a person. These ethereal doubles are often seen as a manifestation of the astral body, which is said to be able to travel independently of the physical body.
Astral Body:
In the realm of esotericism, an out-of-body experience (OBE) is a phenomenon in which an individual's consciousness, or astral body, separates from the physical body and is able to travel outside of it. It is believed that the astral body is a separate entity from the physical body, and is capable of traveling throughout the universe. OBEs are often induced intentionally through various techniques, such as meditation or lucid dreaming.
Aura:
According to some theories, doppelgangers may be caused by the aura, a field of energy that is believed to surround the human body. The aura is often described as a subtle body, and is said to be visible to certain individuals, such as psychics and practitioners of holistic medicine, who claim to be able to see the size, color, and vibrational frequency of the aura. In some esoteric belief systems, the aura is considered to be a manifestation of the subtle body, which is thought to be composed of a more refined or ethereal substance than the physical body.
Parallel Universe:
There is a theory that doppelgangers are parallel universe versions of oneself, appearing in this universe to carry out tasks that the individual would have done in another universe where they made different choices. According to this theory, doppelgangers represent the manifestation of alternate realities or parallel universes, where small differences in decision-making can lead to vastly different outcomes. Some people believe that encounters with doppelgangers can provide glimpses into the infinite possibilities of the multiverse.
Psychological Explanations Of Doppelganger:
Autoscopy:
Autoscopy, in psychology, is the phenomenon of perceiving one's surroundings from a perspective outside of one's own body. It is a type of hallucination that occurs very close to the individual experiencing it.
Heautoscopy:
Heautoscopy refers to the hallucination of seeing a representation of one's own body from a distance. This disorder is related to autoscopy and can be a symptom of conditions such as schizophrenia and epilepsy. It is also a possible explanation for doppelganger experiences.
Mass Hallucination:
Mass hallucination is a theory that suggests that doppelgangers and other similar phenomena may be caused by a large group of people simultaneously experiencing the same hallucination. This theory is often used to explain events such as mass UFO sightings and encounters with religious figures. Mass hallucination is thought to occur when people are in close proximity to each other and may be influenced by social and psychological factors.
Mass hallucination is often the result of suggestion and pareidolia, where one person sees or pretends to see something unusual and points it out to others. Those people, having been told what to look for, may then convince themselves that they see the same thing and pass on the suggestion to others. This can create a chain reaction of people all perceiving the same hallucination.
Conclusion:
Throughout history, people and cultures from various parts of the world have attempted to understand and explain doppelgangers in their own ways. However, these theories have not been able to convincingly explain all the historical accounts and claims of doppelgangers. Whether it is a paranormal phenomenon or a psychological disorder, the doppelganger remains one of the most mysterious and bizarre experiences in human life.
